Treasures of the Bowes Museum

Swaledale mini break 9

The Bowes Museum holds such a cornucopia of treasures that it's hard to pick out just a few. Its most celebrated piece is this life-size silver swan automaton and music box, acquired by John Bowes from a Parisian jeweller in 1872. It is driven by clockwork and swims in a lake of glass rods, surrounded by silver leaves. It preens itself, then bends down to catch a fish in its beak and appears to swallow it. Unfortunately, after being inactive during the Covid lockdown, the mechanism has seized up and requires repair, so I was not able to see it working, although there is a video in the museum (and several on YouTube, if you want to see it moving).  It is really unusual and very beautiful. 

The portrait below is Josephine Benoite Coffin-Chevalier, the wife of John Bowes and co-founder of the museum. A talented actress, businesswoman, hostess, skilled painter, and patron of the arts, I'm not sure this portrait does her justice, looking a little coy.  

The collection has a couple of stunning paintings by Canaletto, one of which is 'The Bucintoro Returning to the Molo on Ascension Day after the Ceremony of Wedding the Adriatic' (1730s). (Not given to short titles, was he?) 

There are wonderful pieces of ornate furniture, like this OTT mirrored piece, in which is reflected an equally ornate bed. 

I loved this pair of tin-glazed earthenware cats, the work of the French ceramicist Emile Gallé c 1900. 

I also liked this decorative work on the front of a harmonium: 

The beautiful lady below adorns a Roman Head Pot, discovered at Piercebridge, not far from the museum. These pots date back roughly to 200-230 AD.  

She reminds me of the actress, Sarah Lancashire (who doesn't date back to 200 AD!):